Guard for tram-cars and other vehicles.



SQ CROMAHTY. GUARD FOR TRAM CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FlLED AUG-H.'I914. 1 1 1 166, Pateppefl Jan. 4, 1916.

mm PLANOGRAPH C0-,WASHINGTON. D. c.

COLUA F smnsre rnr neuron.

SAMUEL oRoMARTY, E ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, AssIenoE T0 JOSEPH 1V1. STUART, 0E

ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND.

GUARD FOR TEAM-CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

Application filed August 11, 1914. Serial No. 856,207.

This invention relates to guards for tramcars and other vehicles, and has for its object to provide an automatic guard of improved construction.

According to this invention the guard consists of a swinging front member suspended from the floor or frame of the car at the front thereof, and a swinging scoop or the like member mounted on suitable brackets or equivalent at the rear of the front mem- )guard as in Fig. 1. arranged tobe non-auto matic, and Fig. 5. is a similar view showing her and connected to such front member by means of spring or other suitable connections at the top thereof, while a rearwardly extending flange or extension frame on the lower edge of the front member overlaps the lower edge of the scoop or the like member. In a modification, the rearward extension frame is pivotally connected to theswinging front member and provided with catches or the like whereby it be folded up against the swinging front member, a releasable retention mechanism being provided for holding the front member in its rearwardly deflected position after the guard has beenactuated, such retention mechanism being releasable by the driver.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure. 1. is a fragmentary section through the front portion of a tram car fitted with a guard in accordance with this invention, the guard being provided with a releasable retention device. Fig. 2 is a front end view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a view analogous to Fig. 1., but in elevation, and showing the automatic or re-setting type of guard. Fig. 4. is a fragmentary detail showing the the action of the front guard depressing the forward edge of the scoop closely into contact with the ground.

In carrying out the invention, the front member consists of an open rectangular frame 1 having at the bottom thereof a rearwardly extending flange part or extension frame 2, also consisting of an open frame, which may be suitably curved from front to rear, and these open frames are fitted with suitable netting or the like of wire, cord, or other suitable material. Extending from the top of such rectangular frame are two, or more, rods 3 or the like provided with bushes or sleeves, or the like pivotal elements, adapted to vwork 'on' a horizontal bar 4 suitably suspended by brackets 5 from the floor or frame; 6 of the car at the front thereof, and extending upward beyond such shaft are extensions 7 of the said rods, such extensions being joined at, their extreme upper ends 8 to a pair (or more than two) of arms or rods 9, which extend forwardly from the upper end of the scoop 10 or like member, which latter consists of an open frame curved from front to rear. and normally carried at a suitablev angle, this frame being provided with aconvenient net covering as in the case of the front guard member. At or about, the center thereof the frame of this scoop member. is provided with a cross bar 11 which is suitably pivoted on a bracket 12,01 equivalent, projecting or depending from the front or floor of the car or from other convenient part thereof, so that the scoop may pivot about the axis of the cross bar 11. The front end 13 of this scoop member is arranged to project beneath the afore-nientioned extension frame 2 on the front member 1, and in the normal position of the guard members, Figs. 1. and 2., the said extension 2 mayrest on the front part 13 of the scoop member. The upper, or rear, end of the scoop member is provided with a suitable'spring orsprings .14 con nected to some part of-the car, by nuans of which that end isdrawn toward the rear so that the front end 13 is normally pulled upward against said extension frame 2. The upper connections between the front and scoop members have a suitable intervening spring, or springs, 9 connected to the rods 7 or. to arms Shjoiritedat 8 thereto, so as to give sufficient play and resiliency, and the whole arrangement'is such that, on the frontguard member 1 being pressed baclrsaid scoop member or tray, and inclosed be-=' tween the front guard 1 and the scoop member 10. If desired, the front guard member} is fitted as hereinafter described. The scoop member 10 may be carried in any suitable manner from the car, the particular arrangement shown in the drawings being merely by way of example. A catch mechanismsuch as a knee joint or the like element is preferably formed on the front horizontal bar 4-, or the pivotal connection of the front guard 1 therewith, to prevent such front guard from swinging forward.

There, therefore, it is desired that the guard should be automatic, that is to say, capable of readjusting itself after being operated, the arrangement would be that shown in Fig. 3., or with the rear frame 2 removed. But if it be desired that the guard should be positively reset, after actuation, by the driver, a releasable retention mechanism is provided and the rearward extension frame 2 either eliminated or, preferably, pivotally connected to the front guard or gate 1. This is the arrangement shown in Figs. 1., 4., and 5. In this form the rearward frame 2 is pivoted at 2 to the front guard 1, in such manner, that it may be either let down to the position shown in Fig. 1. or

folded against the front guard 1, as in Fig.

4., catches of any suitable description being provided for retaining the extension 2 in this folded position. The extensions 7 of th rods 3 are in this case pivotally connected to a toothed element 9 having one, or more, recesses 15 with which a spring controlled or other catch 16 of any suitable pat tern is adapted to engage, as in Fig. 5. Sup posing the extension 2 folded up, when the front guard 1 has been actuated and the toothed element 9 drawn forward through the hook orloop end of the spring catch 16, such catch then retains the front guard 1 and the forward part of the scoop member 13 in their operated positions, as indicated in 'Fig. 5. Consequently, the guard in this form will not re-set itself. To efiect this the driver operates the catch 16 by means of his foot, with the type of catch shown, to release it from the tooth 15, thus allowing the spring'l to re-set the mechanism. In place of arranging the spring catch 16 to be operated through a foot stud by the driver, as shown, such catch may be ar ranged to be released by him in any other manner, say, by means of a rod pulled upward. Where a retention device such as the catch 16 is provided for rendering the guard non-automatic, and it is desired that the "guard should be automatic, means may he )rovided for throwing the'catch mechanism 16 out of action. If desired, permanent 'uards or shields 17 may be also provided 111 front of the rear car wheels.

When the invention is applied to motor ehicles other than rail cars the guard mem- Qbers are preferably mounted in such manner that they are automatically turned to face in the same direction as the steering wheels of the car.

I claim 1. In a wheel guard for cars, a bracket member depending from the under side of the car, a curved scoop member pivotally connected to the bracket adjacent the center of the scoop, a guard member pivotally supported in front of the scoop, elastic means for connecting the scoop and guard, elastic means adapted to normally overcome the tension of the first mentioned elastic means for holding the scoop in a raised po- 5 sition.

2. In a wheel guard for cars, a bracket depending from the underside of the car, a curved scoop mounted adjacent the central portion thereof, a front guard pivotally supported adjacent the scoop, means for connecting the scoop and guard, whereby movement of the guard produces a relative movement of the scoop, an extension frame pivotally connected to one end of the guard, said frame adapted to fall into engagement with j the scoop when the scoop is operated, and resilient means for returning the scoop to its normal position.

3. In a wheel guard, a bracket supported under the car, a scoop pivotally supported on the bracket, an arm having one of its ends connected to the scoop, its opposite end extending under th upper edge of the scoop, a guard pivotally supported under the forward portion of the car, resilient means for connecting the guard and a 1 and man ually operated means for releasing the guard at the will of the operator.

4:. In a wheel guard, a bracket supported under the car, a scoop pivotally supported on the bracket, a front guard supported adj acent the scoop, a rod having one of its ends connected to the scoop adjacent the upper edge thereof, the opposite end of the said rod extending beyond the upper edge of the scoop, resilient means for connecting one. end of the said rod to the guard, and resili-i' ent means connecting said rod and said, bracket member. 120

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

sat inst GROMARTY.

Witnesses 1V. LUSBY, LILIAN GARDINER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentsr Washington, D. C. 

